Demystifying Genre Program

Since I am giving this program 3x this week (including 2x today), I thought it was a good time to repost the current version here.

From Becky's Most Popular Programs descriptions:

Demystifying Genre: Nothing is scarier than trying to help a fan of a genre you yourself don’t enjoy. You want to help that, for example, Romance reader, find the perfect book, but you are having trouble knowing where to begin because...eek!... you don’t read Romance. You are afraid they will find out you are a fraud. How can YOU possibly help THEM?!? Don’t fret. In this program, Readers’ Advisory expert, Becky Spratford, will teach you the basic appeals of the major genres, give you the inside track on what a fan of that genre is most drawn to, and provide you with talking points to get your genres readers to tell you what they want. This program focuses on providing you with a diverse and inclusive list of up-to-date authors; only living authors will be discussed. You will leave this session with the confidence and skill to help fans of every genre, regardless of whether or not you have ever read a book in that genre yourself. And that will leave a trail of happy patrons in your wake.

In this program, I assess every genre and share what it is like right now. I do not include any dead authors and the trends I report on are both over time (25 years of following this closely) and based on the data from the year before.

It is a snapshot of each genre right now. But while I am giving the presentation virtually, I encourage everyone to share their favorite books in each genre in the chat, so that all versions of the genre are included.

I love creating this program because while I am interrogating the state of each genre, I also am able to see how all of the different genres are influencing others. And it is not just the books that are coming out, but how the readers are responding.

For example, I have seen Westerns almost die only to be revived by the genre and its writers actively expanding the definition of the genre and inviting more voices and stories in. While I watch psychological suspense change from a genre about serial killers written mostly by men into a genre about unreliable narrators written by mostly women. And I have watch the parallel rise of Horror and Gentle Reads both for the same reason (to escape turbulent reality). 

I also now include Nonfiction cross over options for every genre.

I have also been able to track how trends with teens readers have moved to become trends for adult readers, which when you really think about it makes perfect sense because the readers age but they take their preferences with them. And I have been doing this for a full generation now, so of course the trends have aged up. Romance everything, speculative everything, the entire flip of the Psychological Suspense genre, these are just a few examples of this which I talk about when I give this presentation. 

You can click here to see the most recent version of this program. While these slides are but half of the story I tell in this 90 minute presentation, they are text heavy including the main appeal factors, trends, and MANY book titles to get you started (covers on slide with the titles in the notes field).

If you want me to give this program for your library, system, or state, let me know. 

If nothing else, it is fun to see if I can get through them all in 90 minutes. It is tough but I have done it in 75 minutes and once in 60 although that is NOT recommended for the audience or me. 

LibraryReads: October 2026

        

 It's LibraryReads day and that means four things here on RA for All

1. I post the list and tag it “Library Reads” so that you can easily pull up every single list with one click.
2. I can remind you that even though the newest list is always fun to see, it is the older lists where you can find AWESOME, sure bet suggestions for patrons that will be on your shelf to actually hand to them right now. The best thing about LibraryReads is the compound interest it is earning. We now have hundreds and hundreds of titles worth suggesting right at our fingertips through this archive OR the sortable master list allowing you to mix and match however you want.
3. You have no excuse not to hand sell any LibraryReads titles because there is a book talk right there in the list in the form of the annotation one of your colleagues wrote for you. All you have to say to your patron is, “such and such library worker in blank state thought this was a great read,” and then you read what he or she said.
4. Every upcoming book now has at least 1 readalike that is available to hand out RIGHT NOW. Book talk the upcoming book, place a hold for it, and then hand out that readalike title for while they wait. If they need more titles before their hold comes in, use the readalike title to identify more readalike titles. And then keep repeating. Seriously, it is that easy to have happy, satisfied readers.

So get out there and suggest a good read to someone today. I don’t care what list or resource you use to find the suggestion, just start suggesting books.

Please remember to click here for everything you need to know about how to participate. 

And finally, here is LibraryReads' extremely helpful Resources page.

Now let's get to the October 2026 list.... 

 

Anderson, Meg

The Memory of Borrowed Books

Sourcebooks Landmark

10/6/2026

An ode to how much libraries mean to those who need them. Hometown librarian Claire’s beloved library is in danger, as the board has deemed it irrelevant, and developers are waving money around. Anxious about the library's fate, Claire discovers a door that leads her to books containing patrons’ forgotten memories. As she pieces together a mystery of a broken friendship, she will also rediscover her own memories that the library has kept safe. With a whimsical yet compassionate storyline, this will appeal to library lovers as well as readers of deeply emotional stories.

--Kimberly McGee, Lake Travis Community Library, Austin, TX

in, TX

NoveList read-alike: T he Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods

Armstrong, Kelley

Dive Bar at the End of the Road

St. Martin's Press

10/6/2026

After an unavoidable accident, five strangers gather in a nearby bar to nurse their injuries and wait out the storm until morning. Soon they realize that the bar and surrounding woods are not as they seem, and they must work together to survive. An edge-of-your-seat horror by a beloved multi-genre author, this is a supernatural story not to be missed.

--Bree Dumont, Cleveland County Library System, OH

NoveList read-alike: The Midnight Knock by John Fram

Dawson, Delilah S.

Monstera

Titan Books

10/13/2026

When Lucy, a somewhat naïve young woman, moves into her dream apartment in Savannah, she is excited to be away from the iron rule of her grandfather and start a new life. What she does not expect is to become intrigued by her weightlifting, plant-loving neighbor, Saskia, a woman with a secret. Part horror, part romance, all intrigue, this is a sweet and sinister read.

--Terri Smith, Cornelia Library, GA

NoveList read-alike: On Sundays She Picked Flowers by Yah Yah Scholfield

Garmus, Bonnie

Peck & Peck: A Novel

Scribner

10/13/2026

Landing a job at a prestigious poetry quarterly seems like a dream come true for Batter Gray, a recent graduate with an ear for poetry, until he becomes privy to the secrets of the Peck brothers and their editors. A gorgeous, empathetic novel following a character seeking his place in the world.

--Jennifer Winberry, Hunterdon County Library, NJ

NoveList read-alike: Villa Coco by Andrew Sean Greer

Gayle, Amanda

Once, Again, Always

Avon

10/6/2026

Molly's having a bad day. She wakes up in the hospital and discovers she's forgotten six years of her life. And she's married to her high school nemesis. Molly is horrified, but her friends convince her to try. The couple grows closer again, but Molly may never regain her memory. Can they build a new life?

--Maddelyn Vanicell, Chicago Public Library, IL

NoveList read-alike: Thank You f or Remembering by Emily Harding

Kleypas, Lisa

Queen of Lombard Street

Avon 

10/20/2026

With the help of a powerful British banker, Rena is determined to build a women-only bank where women can have control of their money. A novel, interesting plot make it worth a read, but it’s the nuanced and intriguing characters, based on real-life women, who really help this book shine. You will want to do more reading about these historic figures. 

--Judy G Sebastian, Eastham Public Library, MA

NoveList read-alike: The Tea Rose by Jennifer Donnelly

Maclean, Will

Solace House

Grove Atlantic

10/13/2026

A group of university students spending a summer fixing up an abandoned asylum are tasked with cleaning up an imposing house nearby. After they find the journals of the eccentric and reclusive previous owner, odd things begin to happen. An intricate story that reflects the concept of time existing all at once. 

--Grace Kranz, Blue Earth County Library, MN

NoveList read-alike: Episode Thirteen by Craig DiLouie

Niffenegger, Audrey

Life Out of Order

Hanover Square Press

10/6/2026

Alba’s life is definitely out of order as she journeys into the future. She is the daughter of Henry of The Time Traveler’s Wife fame, but this book does not rely on your reading of the previous book.The time traveling premise has the same internal logic as before and will send your mind spinning . Pro tip: Keep an eye on the dates and ages!

--Clare Etheridge, Brentwood Public Library, PA

NoveList read-alike: The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley

Robinson, Rioghnach

Bad Words

St. Martin's Press

10/6/2026

A feud between an author and the literary critic who wrote devastating pans of his novels goes viral, but their animosity and banter starts to take on a flirtatious tone. This bookish tale takes a nuanced look at criticism, online culture, and intention versus impact, all grounded in rich, real emotions. A swoony, enemies-to-lovers slow-burn romance set amid a snowy NYC.

--Jenna Friebel, Oak Park Public Library, IL

NoveList read-alike: The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley

Schoenbrun, Jane

Public Access Afterworld: A Novel

Hogarth

10/27/2026

A relentlessly strange but totally compelling journey into "Public Access Afterworld," the source of peculiar TV broadcasts that foster dangerous obsessions in all who see them. Readers who like their horror with a SF twist will devour this one.

--Mara Bandy Fass, Champaign Public Library, IL

NoveList read-alike: Mister Magic by Kiersten White

Board Bonus pick:

Iijima, Brenda

Shelter is Necessary for Existence: A Novel

Two Dollar Radio

10/27/2026

Notable Nonfiction: 

Black, Riley

Tyrant Lizard Queen: The Love, Life, and Terror of Earth’s Greatest Carnivore

St. Martin's Press

10/27/2026

See our social media for annotations of the bonus picks

Click here to see the entire Hall of Fame

The LibraryReads Hall of Fame designation honors authors who have had multiple titles appear on the monthly LibraryReads list since 2013. When their third title places on the list via library staff votes, the author moves into the Hall of Fame. Click here to see the Hall of Fame authors organized in alpha order. Please note, the current year's Hall of Fame lists are pulle

Travis Baldree, Samuel Sattin (Adapted by), Shanti Rittgers (Illustrated by), Sarah Webb (Illustrated by)

Legends & Lattes: The Graphic Novel

9781984862310

Ten Speed Graphic

Carter, Ally

It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Murder

Avon 

10/13/2026

Chambers, Becky

As You Wake, Break the Shell

Harper Voyager

10/13/2026

Bailey, Tessa

Broken Rival

Avon

10/6/2026

Jones, Stephen Graham

Off the Reservation

S&S/Saga Press

10/13/2026

Kingsolver, Barbara

Partita

Harper

10/6/2026

Schwab, V. E.

Victorious

Tor Publishing Group

10/6/2026

Publishers Are Getting Nasty Now That Libraries Are Finally Fighting Back on Unfair Pricing- UPDATED 9/15/26

As many readers know, I have been fighting for months, very publicly, calling out the publishers for overcharging libraries for ebooks and eaudio. You can read all of my posts here or go straight to the letter of testimony I delivered to the IL State House in person back in March. 

Well, while I was on vacation the publishers showed their hand big time. That hand? They are scared of us. Our arguments about the unfairness and our pursuing legislation based on the fact that the pricing hikes for libraries violates contract laws and takes advantage of the taxpayers is working! If it was not working why would they pay for studies like this one. From the PW report on this study

Study Says Library E-book Lending Hurts Industry Sales

As some states consider legislating how publishers negotiate with libraries over e-book agreements, the Association of American Publishers and the Authors Guild have released a report which found that increased e-book library lending is supplanting sales of print books.

Titled “An Empirical Study of the Impact of Library E-Lending on the Book Economy” and conducted by Secretariat Advisors, the report predicts that “decreases in library e-book prices or certain other changes to licensing terms, as required in recent state legislative initiatives, would cause further harm to commercial markets,” including publishers, authors, and booksellers.

The report’s authors emphasize the role of libraries as both public institutions and market participants, acknowledging that “collection budgets have not meaningfully increased even as states and localities expect libraries to offer both print and digital formats to their communities.”

However, the authors argue that the imposition of government controls on the distribution, purchase, and pricing of e-books and audiobooks in library channels “would effectively undermine the commercial marketplace by demanding more digital copies for libraries for less money immediately upon first publication with little regard for the larger ecosystem.”

In a joint prepared statement, AAP president and CEO Maria Pallante and Authors Guild CEO Mary Rasenberger said that “fully funding libraries should be an urgent priority for all lawmakers, and the Authors Guild and AAP stand firmly behind efforts that would increase taxpayer funding at every level of government and support new ideas for private sector support.” They continued, “It should be obvious to policymakers that both the mission of libraries and the intellectual property of authors and publishers are equally invaluable to the public interest, not a tradeoff.

Click though to read more. But as you can see in the intro above, they are clearly scared. They wants to keep bilking us for extra money but also, they know people are mad that they are picking on libraries in general and stealing their tax dollars in particular. 

Well we are not falling for it. Well, to be fair, some libraries are. They tell me, but Becky what if they stop selling to us if we fight? To them I say, you are joking right? With margins so tight already, 

These are the same people who obey in advance when it comes to soft censorship, so they can just shit their mouths. They are wrong and keep proving over and over again that they are unwilling to fight for what is correct when push comes to shove.

But I digress. Here is what I know about their scare tactics. The smartest people on books are not buying this crap. Take Ron Charles' Substack article on this issue: Libraries Are Not the Problem: A new publishing-industry study takes aim at ebook lending just as public libraries are fighting for their lives.

Click through to Ron Charles' well argued essay, click here for the PW report on the study, and of course, keep following my coverage and FIGHT here.

Important Update: My colleague and friend Stephen Sposato from Chicago Public Library alerted me to this VERY important article pointing out SIGNIFICANT faults in the study the Authors' Guild commissioned. So not only are they nasty and scared, but they are fighting libraries by releasing data inaccurately manipulated to make us look bad.

Please read and pass on.

Becky Explaining RA on the RAILS Can't Shelve This Podcast

This week, my appearance on the Reaching Across Illinois Library System's Can't Shelve This Podcast went live.

You can click here or on the image below to access the podcast, links we discuss, and a transcript. 

I am sharing this podcast with all of you because I think it serves as a great example of how you can explain what RA is to patrons, staff, administrators, trustees, stakeholders, etc.... everyone. 

We really get into what RA is and why it matters without getting bogged down in how to do it.

Do I hope you listen? Sure. But what I really hope is that you pass this on and use it to not only have conversations at your library about the importance of book discovery for all ages of readers in public and school libraries, but also about how RA is a core service that should not be overlooked.

More access points and details below.

Have a great weekend. And to those of you, like me, celebrating Rosh Hashanah this weekend-- Happy New Year!

Can't Shelve This 3.2 - Practical (RA) Magic

It's not magic, it's research. 🔎✨

Janette and Leah sit down with RA for All's Becky Spratford to explore the art of connecting readers with the right books. From practical tips and resources to building a culture of book discovery, Becky shares why Readers' Advisory is all about conversations and curiosity.